Crate marking machine



May 9, 1944. H. B. GREENWOOD CRATE MARKING MACHINE May 9,1944. H. B. GREENWOOD 2,348,537

` CRATE MARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Shag?, 2

:Juve/Mofa HENRY B. /'fE/vwoo /TNES May 9, 1944. H. B. GREENWOOD CRATE MARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 11943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Win04 May 9, 1944 H. B. GREENWQOD 2,348,537

CRATE MARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 9, 1944. H. B. GREENWOOD 2,348,537

CRATE MARKING' MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1943 5 sheets-sheet 5' y speed of shaft46.

by the printing roller 24, the troughs are supported, in the preferred form of the invention shown, by frustoconical roller 21, best showngin form shown is similar to Figure 6. This in the roller 20.

In the machine as built,'the chain 8 is Vdriven at the rear by means of a sprocket 28 shown in detail in Figure 7, the same `being inthe form.-

shown,V embodied in a hub and collar construction which comprises an escapement device or yielding means 30 to prevent injury tothe machine in case the trough members which are usually of wood, and therefore rigid, become jammed.

While the frustoconical rollers 26, and 21 are regarded as convenient and particularly desirable and helpful in the present machine because of their antifrictionalfunction, their omission infavor of a continuous support of Vcross-section, somewhat similar to that )of the table I2is within the scope of the invention. In this connection it should be understood that there is ak table or support I2' between the rollers 2D and 21, and a table I2 beyond the roller 21 and that the` fully .printed trough members I9 are discharged, from the machine at or beyond the sprocket 26, either dropping on the oor or into a suitable receptacle or being received by a further conveyer,

.The driveY of the machine and the various elements thereof, and the details of said elements willnow be described. I

Asmalready pointed out, the machine is driven by theV motor 4 shown in Figures land 4. YThe said motor carries on its shaft 35, a drive pulley .36 whichmayberofthe Reeves type and which drives aV-shapedbe1t 31 or any suitable belt vwhichengages and ,drives a larger `pulley 38, all

of which members are on the right side ofthe machine, asseen from the front which is remote in .Figure 4.351

Thepulley 39 is secured to theV shaft 39 which is. mounted on .uprightsS on base 5 and carries secured thereto asmall drive pulley 40 which .drives ajplurality of V-belts 4I as shown in Figures 4 and l. These belts drive a pulley 42. This pulley 4,2V carries secured thereto a shaft 44' carryingY a small pinion44 which meshes with and driveaagear, t5,` mounted on and secured to a transverse shaft .46, see Figure 3.

This shaft 46, asseen at the left in Figure-2, whichis a front view, has secured there to a bevelgear 4,1 which meshes with and drives bevel gearv 48 on the longitudinal shaft 49 at the left in Figure 2 vwherebysaid shaft 49 is driven at a predetermined speedin conformance with the l, The gear 45I meshes with and drives a toothed gear 50, 4best shown in Figure 3. This gear 50 is securedto and drives the transverseshaft 5I, see Figure onwhich is mounted the double Vfrustoconical, roller and the chain .guide` 22. This rollerv 20 consistsv of twomembers 20' and 2,9, `each of lwhich. is frustoconical and each is securedby meansv of al screw 52 and key 53` .to

' 'drives an idler 51 which in turn meshes with and drives `an idler 58 in any suitable manner. AThe gearr58 meshes with and drives a gear 60 which is secured to and drives a shaft 6I, Figure 3 on whichjthe printing roller I9 is mounted. This shaftis mounted in floating bearings 65 for the purpose of providing an upwardly yielding theshaft. The flatisurfaces at the. large ends 75.

support for said roller.

The trough members I0 as already pointed out are fed from the Ybottom of the stack of troughs VII on the table I2, by means of the chain 8. Said troughs passA rearwardly from the table I2 to the table I2', over the double frustoconical roller 29, the cylindrical edges 62 of whichsupport the center section 63 of the trough incontact with the printing roller I9, whereby the characters appearing on the type blocks I9' on the roller I9 are printed on the center section 63 of the trough, the table partly supporting the troughs. The troughs are thus fed successively by action of the dogs 9 on the chain 8, and each is printed inturn.

The desired upwardly yielding support or control for printing roller I9 is applied to the shaft 6l of the printing roller I9 by way of four depending` rods 64 which engage the bearings 65 of said shaft, a yielding resistance to the lifting of said rods and roller being set up by springs 660m each side of the machine. The expansion of said springs 66 is limited by depending bolts 61, threaded upwardly into the frame at 68. These bolts support casting 15, on which the spring abutments rest, and thus determine the normal position .of rollersI9 as hereinafter described.

Bolts 61 may be rotated by-the operator 'for purposes of adjustment of casting 15 and roller I9 by. means of adjusting shaft 69 whichcarries bevel gears 10, meshing with bevel `gears..1l`o'n screws 61. The nuts 12 which serve as the'upper abutments for said springs 66 are adjustable along said bolts.61 .to vary the' tension ofthe springs, the lower abutments 15'of said' springs are supported on bars 15V which rest `on casting 14, asshown. 'I'his casting. 14. extends iacr'oss. the machine and has one of said'bar's15at each end. The bars 15 are thrust downwardly Yby springs 66, so far as bolts 61 supporting casting 14 will permit. .The lower ends of the rods.l64 secured in said bars15' are thrust downwardly by and yield upwardlyV against the tension: ofthe springs in response to theprinting pressurefapplied tothe troughs by Way of roller I9,':i. e. the printing roller I9 yields upwardly, printing pressure beingapplied bysprings 66. Rods 64 carrying theV bearings 65 slide in stationary guides 65' and casting or plate 14 acts as a stop to determine the normal position of the roller I9. Inking of the type; blocks I9 on the roller I9 is performed by an ink pot and roller mechanism which vthough shown, seempto require no specific description.,` i A From the first printngg'station, beneath the printing roller t9, `the troughs are `fed-` rearwardly by thechain 0, whereby they are brought into printing relation with the inclined printing. unit |y which includes the inclined printing roll; or roller 24, best shown in Figure 1A which is a rear elevation. i

This printing roller 24 as shown in-Figures 1 and `6, rotates in a plane at right angles. tothe outer surface of the inclinedportion 26A of the trough |20, theY general purpose of the same being to print the necessary data onl one side wall 26 of said trough so` that this data as to the contained shells is displayed in everyidirection from which the crate can be seen. It should be noted at this point that the top and. bottomwalls of the crates are printed in` a different machine.V Thus the crate being presented. with the shellstherein ready for use, the gunner or loading crew.` is venabled to'immediately.` select andidentify. the ammunition suitable to` any particular gun.

It may be also noted at thisfpoint that the dou-ble frustoconical roller 2-1 is. similar to roller 20, .previously described andA thereforeA need not be specifically described. It supports. the trough |001. assists in connection with thetables I2 and I2" in4 supportingv the trough Vduring* the printing of thesidewalls 28.

The. inclined printing roller` 24: in the.. form of the invention shown is mounted. on a shaft 85 which is upwardly and inwardly inclined from the shaft 49, previously described, being. essentially at right angle to the plane of rotation of said roller 24 and hence parallel to the inclined side 26 of the trough and the corresponding side ofY thel table t2, I2', |92. It maybe noted that in the` form shown, the` shaft is inclined. at an angleof about30 from the. vertical, the sides. of the trough being similarly inclined to kconform tothe hex type of box, `othershapesas octagonal being contemplated. i

The shafticarries secured to. its .lower end, a bevel gear 86. which meshes with: and is. driven by a corresponding gear. 81, mounted on and securedto the shaft 49,' and shaft 85 is provided with bearings 8.8 and, 8.9;formed on orsecured to the inclined frame 9|Ll which is rigidlyr supported on. the side frames. t; and 2, as, shown. or in any suitable.`rnanner.

The inclined. printing roller 2.4. as already pointed out is mounted directly onshaftwhich carries .at its upper end, secured in any= suitable manner, a gear 9| whichdrivestheinking rollers 1 in anyvsuitable manner as byway of; a. train. of

gears 92 and; 93;. Considerablediffculty was encountered in inking; the inclined printing; roller` 2 4.

. In the formv of the invention shown. in which shown. is operated by and with a step by stepmotion or in any Vsuitable manner. In the. form shownthere is a ratchet. gear 961cm. they roller shaft 9 1 which ratchetv is, turnedbyfa pavtzlV 9.8 AWhich pavsrl` is. carried by: an oscillating lever 99, pivotedl on said. shaft 9.1;. 'Said lever 9,9. is os..- cillated by means. of aconnecting. rodI |;0|', which isoperated by a crank; pinl |02 which, is adjust.- ably secured in` aslot- |0,3w.hich,s1ot; crosses, the Surface. of a disk` |104. which is mountedon and securedto a rOtatingshaft. |05., mounted in suit..- able bearingsin, a. stationary uprightmember .Il-1.6,on.the,.f.1rar1.1e..-. l he.` Shaft-.1 |05. projects througnthe frame and '9.21.1' QSf-L O n; tS Qploit: 61141.82 fbltel; ga'll L0] whichmmhes with .and-isf dri-renfgbr ai beitel; gear |08, which` is secured to and rotates with a sprocket |09fon1a shaft |09', which as shown, is driven by a chain` |02. Said chain.` I |0 is in turn driven by a small sprocket mounted on and secured to the shaft 49, all of which is shown in Eigures1and4. i

Ink is supplied to the printing surface of the printing roller 24. by an ink roller or rollers ||.5,

which receive ink from roller ||2, which in turn, receives ink from roller H4. The roller ||2 is driven by the gear 93, already described, being preferably reciprocated in the direction lof its axis by a lever ||6 which engages the shaft H2 of said roller at ||1 as by way ofthe flanges and ball shown. This lever |||i is oscillated in any suitable manner as by means of a cam slot I3 formedk in a hub or other suitable member ||9 on .the end of the shaft 85. i

The roller ||2 receives the ink from the roller |.4. and delivers itl to a roller ||5 which engages the. printing. roller 24 and performs. the inking function. The latter roller if desired being dupli.- cated. Itis driven by contact with the printing roller and with the large inking roller |.|2,'both of which are positively driven. f

The spreading roller ||4 receives ink from` the pick-up roller in the pot 94 by wayv of a transfer roller |20, shown in broken lines in the ink delivery position and in full lines in the position in which it receives ink from the pick-up roller. In the form shown, the roller |20 is mounted in bearings |2I, carried by an oscillating arm |22, secured to a shaft |23, oscillating in suitable bearings on or in the frame 90. The shaft |23 has acrank |24, pivotallyconnected to a depending rod |25. which asY shown is substantially vertical and impelled. downwardly by a spring: |30. i

This. rod |25v is forked at-its lower end tostraddle the shaft |09' or isotherwise suitably guided to move in or substantially inthe direction of its length. Motion in. this direction is imparted to rod |25l by a follower roller |21 thereon which engages a cam |28 on the shaftlOS. The shaft |09;l being rotated in suitably timed relation to and with. printing roller 24 and inking roller ||2-, the said transfer roller |20 is oscillated in time with said rollers 2||v and ||2 from ink receiving contact with `the pick-up roller 95 to delivery contact with applying roller ||4, which `thus-receives ink from roller |20 and thereafter applies it to the longitudinally reciprocating roller ||-2, which in turn delivers the ink tothe type inking `roller or. rollers H5, thusY avoiding the necessity over the rear sprocket 28. It may be noted that i in. this. second operation,.the. troughs I0 are engaged by. L shaped leaf springV device |30 which y assists in holding themv in position on the tables I2 and |2- thus preventing displacement ofthe members I0 by theprinting roller` 24, and the troughs are partially supported and their-Yadvancement assisted by roller 21 being further supported; by table members l2 and l2". The frustoconical roller 21 is mounted:- on a; transverse shaft: |55.. Figureg4, which`v hassecured thereto a gear: |1562 Whichz is dri-ven: by a train or transmis.-

sion'gears |51, |58 and |42, Figure 4,]the latter being secured to a transverse shaft |43 at the rear, driven from longitudinal shaft49 in a manner to be described. v I, Rollers 20 and 21, preferably project from the table to receive and partially support the printf ing pressure on the troughs. The tables are preferably of a shape, similar to vthat of the troughs and thus comprise a center guide, engaging Vthe bottom of each trough and two side guides I3 one at each side, engaging the sides of the troughs.V 1

The chain driving sprocket 28 at the discharge end of the machine is of interest, see Figure '.7. This sprocket 28 is mounted on a transverse `shaft |40 at the rear end of the machine,rand secured thereto in a manner to be described.A Said shaft |40 is driven by a toothed4 gear |4l, secured thereto and meshing with asimilar gear |42 on the transverse shaft v|43 which has securedthereto a bevel gear |44 which mesheswith a similar gear |45 on the longitudinal shaft 49.

Referring now to Figure '7,the sprocket Y23 is mounted on a collar |4which is in turn mounted on a hub |41, both being concentric .with shaft |40, and the hub |41 being 'secured to shaft |40 in any suitable manner as bykey. |48. This hub |41 has a radial flange |41 to which is secured a flat hardened metal plate |49 having therein an axially disposed hole or socket |50 shown as of tapering or conical shape. The sprocket 28 is in the form of 4a toothed ring, bolted to a radial flange |5| on the collar |46 and-the latter collar is connected tothe hub |41 by an .axially disposed pin |52 having a conical or similar end to fit the socket |50. The pin |52 is mounted to slide in the direction of its length, and is yieldingly advanced by a spring |53, bearing on said pin, and adjustably compressed by screw |54.

It will be apparent from the construction shown that the sprocket 28, and hence the chain 8 may yield relatively to shaft |40 in case the trough members ||lV or one of them should become jammed in its passage through the machine. After such yielding the machine may be resetpr if the obstruction is removed, it will, if there is buta singlepinY |52 to fit a single hole |50, reset itself with the parts inV properly timed relation.

The new machine is believed to present a considerable accomplishment in the way of the solution of the problems incident to complete and substantially automatic `marking of shellY and similar crates so that the marking isconspiculously displayed in' all directions from Which-the crates or one of them can be seen.

The accomplishment .ofthe inventionfurther includes the printing of both the flat central and one inclined side of thel trough members and the inking of the inclinedprinting roller from'a horizontal or upright well or pot,4 without loss 'or Vleakage of the ink, and withouthandling of the desire 'to secure byy faces .of trough-like members; each having' a' at 75 elongated central portion and two similarly elongated flat sides,Y inclined outwardly from said vcentral `p'ortion, the combination of a table'having three elongated guides, including a central guide which is horizontal in transverse section, the other two guides being outwardlydisposed at each side of said central guide to conform to and support the sides of said troughs, said vtable extending backwardly, through the machine, means for retaining a stack of said troughs on said table at the front of the machine and means for feeding the troughs from the bottom of said stack along said table and rearwardly through the machine with the central elongated portion of each trough in a, plane which is horizontal in transverse section, the inclined sides of said troughs being correspondingly disposed on the sides of said table, a printing roller rotating in an upright plane, in printing relation to the horizontal center portion Aof the troughs on said table, means for inking said roller and rotating the same in printing contact with the central portions of saidtroughs as theyare advanced and a second printing roller mounted to rotate in a plane at right angles to one inclined side of said table and said troughs as they are advanced, means for rotating said second roller in time with the feed and in contact with said inclined side of each trough and means for inking the inclined roller as it is rotated.

2. In a machine for printing the outside surfaces of trough-like members, having a flat elongated central portion and two similarly elongated flat sides inclined outwardly from said central portion, the combination of a table having three elongated supporting surfaces including a central surface which is horizontal, in transverse section, the other two surfaces being outwardly inclined to conform to the sides of said troughs, said table extending backwardly through the machine, means for retaining a stack of said troughs, on said table at the front of the machine and means for feeding the troughs from the bottom of said stack along said table and rearwardly through the machine with the cen- `roller and rotatingk the same in printing contact with the central portions of said troughs as they are advanced and a second printing roller mountedto rotate in a plane at right angles to one inclined side of said table and said'troughs -as they areadvanced, means for rotating said second roller in time'with the feed and VinY contact with saidinclined side of each trough, and meansjfor inking the inclined roller. as it isV rotailed. .L ,i 3. A machine for printing corner troughs for crates and the like, said trough members Vcomprising, a at elongated center member and two similarly elongated side members, the latter converging laterally toward and `being attached to the longitudinal edges of the center member, means for feeding the troughs through the machine with 'one of said members substantially horizontal as to its transverse cross-section, and

an-adjacent member inclined, said machine having a table with a similarly horizontal topand a' similarly inclined side for supporting one said inclined member, means V for retaining a stack `of troughs oni said table'at Vthe front, means foi" feeding the troughs one at a time along the table from the stack, and a plurality of printing rol 1ers, one above said top of the table, and rotating in a vertical plane and having inking means, the other being inclined to the vertical and rotating in a plane at right angles to said inclined side and having inking means, said rollers being located in printing relation to the center member and one side of each trough as said troughs are fed along the table, whereby the outside of the center member, and of one side member of each trough is printed as it passes through the machine.

4. A machine as per claim 3 in which said latter inking means comprises an upright ink pot, a pick-up ink roller in inlr` receiving relation to said pot, and having its axis horizontal, an ink transfer roller, and means for supporting and continually swinging said latter roller from a position in which its aXis is horizontal, its sur face being in ink receiving relation with the surface of said pick-up roller, to a position in which its axis is inclined, being parallel to the surface of said inclined printing roller and means for transferring the ink from said transfer roller to the printing surface of said inclined printing roller, and means for rotating said ink rollers.

5. A machine as per claim 3 in which said feeding means comprises a chain, running longitudinally of the machine between the side guides of said table and having dogs projecting above the surface of the table to enga-ge the troughs, driving means for said chain, comprising a releasing connection and means for adjusting said releasing connection to a predetermined tension, whereby injury to the machine incident to jamming of the troughs is prevented.

6. A machine as per claim 3 in which said feeding means, extends longitudinally of the machine within said table and has means projecting from said guides to engage the troughs at their forward ends to move them through the machine, the feed also comprising double frustoconical rollers, one opposed to each of said printing rollers, the frustoconical rollers having their axes transverse to the feed and each comprising two frustoconical members having their .large ends opposed at the center and spaced apart to admit the longitudinal feed, said frustoconical members being of an angle to conform to the insides of the troughs and means for rotating said double frustoconical rollers to assist in advancing the troughs.

7. A machine as per claim 3 in which the feeding means comprises a chain with projecting members engaging the troughs and two double frustoconical rollers each comprising two frustoconical members with their large ends inwardly disposed and spaced apart to engage the inner surfaces of the troughs, the chain extending through said space in each said rollers, each of which is opposed to one said printing roller.

8. A machine as per claim 3, in which one printing roller has floating bearings, and a spring in supporting relation to each said bearing and connections for applying the tension of the springs to the printing roller in the direction toward the table to apply printing pressure by Way of. the printing roller to each trough as it passes.

9. A machine as per claim 3 in which said inking means for the inclined printing roller comprises a horizontal inking roller and an ink pot, therefor and an inking roller parallel to the inclined printing roller and in ink transferring relation thereto and an oscillating ink transfer roller moving from ink transferring contact with one said inking roller into ink transferring contact with the other said inking roller.

10. A machine of the type described for printing the center member, and one side of troughs of the type having an elongated center member and two similarly elongated, outwardly inclined sides members, said machine having a table with I a horizontal top and inclined sides extending longitudinally of the machine and fitting the troughs, means for retaining a stack of troughs on said table at the front, means for feeding the troughs along the table from the bottom of the stack and two printing rollers, one above the said top of the table and rotating in a vertical fore and aft plane and the other rotating in a fore and aft plane at right angles to one side of the table, said printing rollers having rotating means and inking means and being located in trough printing relation to the troughs as they pass along the table whereby the outside of the center member and of one side of each trough is printed as it passes through the machine.

1l. A machine as per claim 10, having double frustoconical rollers of an angle conforming to the inside of each trough one of said rollers being located in the table beneath and opposite each printing roller and projecting slightly from the table to support pressure applied to the troughs by the printing rollers.

HENRY B. GREENWOOD. 

